Tip-offs over social welfare fraud rise by 600%

ALMOST 6,500 reports of suspected social welfare fraud were made to the authorities by members of the public last year, a 600% increase on the previous year.

In the first three months of this year, the Department of Social Protection had received 2,729 anonymous reports of possible fraud.

Meanwhile, more than 1,200 people have applied to have their Jobseeker’s Benefit payments transferred to another EU country so far this year in a move which could cost the state more than €3 million.

The flood of people leaving the country and bringing their payments with them was highlighted by the Minister for Social Protection, Eamon O Cuív, who said up to April 7 last, 1,250 people had applied to the department to have their Jobseeker’s Benefit transferred to another EU country for the 78-day period allowed under the scheme.

In the same period, just 67 people have moved to Ireland from another EU country and asked their government to transfer their payments here for 78 days.

The transfer of the benefit is open to anyone, including Irish nationals, who has been claiming the payment here and who is moving to another country.

The figures show that already this year the total value of the benefit which could be paid is almost equal that for the whole of 2008, when it was put at €3.9m.

Of the total number who have applied this year, 849 are moving to Poland. The estimated value of the benefit that could be paid in those cases is €2.1m. The next highest figure is for people moving to Slovakia, at 81, and then to Britain, with 69 applicants.

The overall number of applicants last year was 5,864, valued at €15.5m where all the applicants were successful in having the benefit payment transferred.

In 2008 just 1,535 people applied for the transfer of payments compared to 212 in 2007. Ireland does have a waiver agreement in place with Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany and the Netherlands, so neither country seeks reimbursement for payments made on behalf of the other.

At a meeting of the Select Committee on Social and Family Affairs Mr O Cuív said there would be a crackdown on all elements of welfare fraud.